Search crews suspended their search of the Little Miami River Saturday evening for a man suspected of arson in Morrow.Police said Aaron Berns, 27, deliberately set fire to a Morrow duplex in the 200 block of Main Street of Friday night.Watch this storyThe structure quickly went up in flames. Investigators said the home was a total loss in the preliminary damage estimate.Neighbor Richard Todd said he rushed out of his home as the house next door erupted in flame."There were flames shooting out of the front of the building. Electrical lines were popping and burning, and next thing I knew there were more lights than a Christmas tree," Todd said.Police arriving at the home questioned Berns, while Morrow fire crews knocked down the blaze.Lt. John Faine with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said Berns began acting evasive and then quickly took off."As the deputies pursued him, the Little Miami River is very close there. He actually dove head first into the river," Faine said.Deputies said Berns was swept away into the darkness and 44 degree rushing water."With the recent rain, the river level was up. In fact, the current was taking him away faster than the deputies could keep up," Faine said.Boat crews continued an active search at Saturday morning, turning up no sign of Berns. After suspending their search around 5 p.m., crews said they will resume search efforts Sunday morning.Fire crews said Friday’s fire was the second time this week they were called to the residence on Main Street to put out a fire. Morrow firefighters said they put out a mattress fire a few days earlier.

MORROW, Ohio —

Search crews suspended their search of the Little Miami River Saturday evening for a man suspected of arson in Morrow.

Police said Aaron Berns, 27, deliberately set fire to a Morrow duplex in the 200 block of Main Street of Friday night.

Related Content

The structure quickly went up in flames. Investigators said the home was a total loss in the preliminary damage estimate.

Neighbor Richard Todd said he rushed out of his home as the house next door erupted in flame.

"There were flames shooting out of the front of the building. Electrical lines were popping and burning, and next thing I knew there were more lights than a Christmas tree," Todd said.

Police arriving at the home questioned Berns, while Morrow fire crews knocked down the blaze.

Lt. John Faine with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said Berns began acting evasive and then quickly took off.

"As the deputies pursued him, the Little Miami River is very close there. He actually dove head first into the river," Faine said.

Deputies said Berns was swept away into the darkness and 44 degree rushing water.

"With the recent rain, the river level was up. In fact, the current was taking him away faster than the deputies could keep up," Faine said.

Boat crews continued an active search at Saturday morning, turning up no sign of Berns. After suspending their search around 5 p.m., crews said they will resume search efforts Sunday morning.

Fire crews said Friday’s fire was the second time this week they were called to the residence on Main Street to put out a fire. Morrow firefighters said they put out a mattress fire a few days earlier.